Polygon Northwest Unveils Early Design for the Children's Home Society Redevelopment on NE 65th Street

The Polygon Homes Northwest team has unveiled their early design review package for the “Bryant Heights” redevelopment of the Children’s Home Society of Washington site, located north of Assumption on NE 65th Street. You can download their design review package here.

The Polygon NW design team presenting at the Jan. 13, 2014 the Early Design Guidance Meeting.

There are three zoning designations on the former CHSW property: NC1-30, LR2, and SF-5000. Due to the commercial zoning on the south side of the site, along NE 65th Street, the developer has to undergo a public design review process for that portion of the redevelopment. They held their first design review meetings for this part of the property on January 13, at the University Heights building. The City will complete their own internal “streamlined” design review for multifamily housing proposed in the middle section of the site, which is zone LR2. The northern limits of the site, which is zoned single family, does not require a design review.

Preferred "massing" with three buildings along NE 65th St.

Last night, however, was the early design review meeting for the project before the Northeast Design Review Board and about 35 members of the public who attended. The team presented three “massings” of the commercial site although focused on their preferred design: three buildings along NE 65th Street with an interior 18-20 foot courtyard, commercial spaces at the corners, live-work units in between, and a setback frontage to activate the NE 65th Street pedestrian environment. In general, the members of the public appeared pleased with the design concept and the thoughtful consideration that the design team conveyed. However, there were some comments from the Northeast Design Review Board and public about preservation of existing trees (the design is configured around preserving a couple exceptional trees in the center of the site), balancing public space along the frontage versus the interior courtyard, considering future bike facilities on the NE 65th Street and 32nd Ave NE, architectural design style, parking, and other items.

Concept sketch of the preferred massing from the southwest (Bryant Cafe at left).

The Ravenna Bryant Community Association has been coordinating with the Polygon Homes Northwest team. For future information on the project and additional design review meetings, please make sure to follow the RBCA’s website. The Ravenna Blog also attended the early design review meeting last night and had a live blog of the meeting, which you can read here.